Reaction of oxygen and sulphur dioxide with Cu(100)-c(2x2)-Mn surface alloy

The adsorption of oxygen and sulphur dioxide onto a Cu(100)-c(2 x 2)-Mn surface alloy at room temperature has been studied by high resolution photoelectron spectroscopy. The interaction of O-2 with the surface alloy leads to oxidation of Mn and promotes of oxygen chemisorption compared with a Cu(100) surface. SO2 adsorption causes oxidation of Mn and leads to the production of chemisorbed sulphur and oxygen as well as surface complexes of SO3 and SO4. Sulphur adsorbed on different sites and SO3, SO4 bonded with dissimilar geometries have been identified by their well-separated S 2p binding energies. A mechanism is proposed for the reaction of SO2 with the Cu(100)-c(2 x 2)-Mn surface. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.